Charles Mingus - The Complete Debut Recordings [12 CD, 1990]

 
This mammoth 12-CD box set may not contain Charles Mingus' most significant recordings (those would take place shortly after these sessions), but there is a remarkable amount of exciting and somewhat innovative music in this reissue of all of the dates recorded for Mingus' Debut label. There are duets and trios with pianist Spaulding Givens, a variety of odd third stream originals (some with vocalist Jackie Paris and altoist Lee Konitz), the famous Massey Hall concert with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie (heard in two versions, one with Mingus' overdubbed bass), a four-trombone date with J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Bennie Green, and Willie Dennis, trio sets with pianists Paul Bley, Hazel Scott, and the obscure John Dennis, a quintet with trumpeter Thad Jones and Frank Wess on tenor and flute, Miles Davis' "Alone Together" session, a date led by trombonist Jimmy Knepper, a completely unissued 1957 sextet session, and -- most importantly -- a greatly expanded live session with trombonist Eddie Bert and tenor saxophonist George Barrow that found Mingus finally finding himself musically. Many of these performances are now also available in smaller sets, but this attractive box (which has 64 previously unissued tracks among the 169 selections) is the best way to acquire this valuable music.






  • Disc 1
    1. What Is This Thing Called Love (3:02) (Porter)
    2. Darn That Dream (3:38) (Van Heusen)
    3. Yesterdays (3:05) (Kern)
    4. Body And Soul (3:34) (Green)
    5. Blue Moon (3:33) (Rodgers)
    6. Blue Tide (3:10) (Givens)
    7. Darn That Dream (3:37) (Van Heusen) **
    8. Jeepers Creepers (take 1) (3:37) (Warren) *
    9. Jeepers Creepers (take 2) (3:03) *
    10. Portrait (take 1) (3:11) **
    11. Portrait (take 2) (3:10)
    12. I've Lost My Love (take 1) (3:01) *
    13. I've Lost My Love (take 2) (3:01) *
    14. Extrasensory Perception (2:48)
    15. Extrasensory Perception (2:42) **
    16. Precognition (2:43)
    17. Make Believe (3:04)
    18. Paris In Blue (3:12)
    19. Montage (2:54)
    20. Day Dream (take 1) (3:42) (Ellington/Strayhorn) *
    21. Day Dream (take 2) (2:38) *
    22. Theme From "Rhapsody In Blue" (take 1) (3:24) (Gerswhin) *
    23. Theme From "Rhapsody In Blue" (take 2) (2:39) *
  • Disc 2
    1. Jet (take 1) (2:44) (Benjamin/Weiss/Revel) *
    2. Jet (take 2) (2:35) *
    3. (Medley) You Go To My Head (2:42) (Coots/Gillespie)
    4. Can You Blame Me (2:48) (Gordon/Leonard)
    5. You And Me (2:47) (Gordon/Leonard)
    6. Bebopper (2:40) (Gordon/Leonard)
    7. Cupid (2:46) (Gordon/Leonard)
    8. Drum Conversation (4:02) (Roach)
    9. I've Got You Under My Skin (2:49) (Porter)
    10. Embraceable You (4:18) (Gershwin)
    11. Sure Thing (2:03) (Powell)
    12. Cherokee (4:48) (Noble)
    13. (Jubilee) Hallelujah (3:51) (Youmans/Robin/Grey)
    14. Lullaby Of Birdland (2:29) (Shearing/Weiss)
    15. Wee (Allen's Alley) (6:40) (Best) *
    16. Hot House (8:58) (Dameron) *
    17. A Night In Tunisia (7:22) (Gillespie) *
  • Disc 3
    1. Perdido (8:10) (Tizol) *
    2. Salt Peanuts (7:18) (Gillespie/Clarke) *
    3. All The Things You Are (7:12) (Kern) *
    4. 52nd Street Theme (0:38) (Monk) *
    5. Perdido (7:24) (Tizol)
    6. Salt Peanuts (7:20) (Gillespie/Clarke)
    7. All The Things You Are (7:10) (Kern)
    8. 52nd Street Theme (0:35) (Monk)
    9. Wee (Allen's Alley) (6:36) (Best)
    10. Hot House (9:01) (Dameron)
    11. A Night In Tunisia (7:22) (Gillespie)
  • Disc 4
    1. Bass-ically Speaking (take 1) (3:58) **
    2. Bass-ically Speaking (take 2) (3:50) **
    3. Bass-ically Speaking (take 3) (3:51) **
    4. Bass-ically Speaking (3:52)
    5. Untitled Blues (2:35) *
    6. Wee Dot (Blues For Some Bones) (14:17) (Johnson)
    7. Stardust (4:52) (Carmichael)
    8. Move (6:48) (Best)
    9. I'll Remember April (11:04) (Raye/DePaul/Johnston)
    10. Now's The Time (14:22) (Parker)
  • Disc 5
    1. Trombosphere (3:24) (Givens)
    2. Ow! (15:11) (Gillespie)
    3. Chazzanova (4:54)
    4. Yesterdays (10:04) (Kern)
    5. Kai's Day (5:22) (Winding)
    6. Pink Topsy (3:03)
    7. Miss Bliss (3:03)
    8. Blue Tide (3:08) (Givens)
    9. Pink Topsy (3:38) **
    10. Eclipse (2:57) **
    11. Eclipse (2:54)
    12. Opus 1 (3:21) (Bley) **
    13. Opus 1 (4:08)
    14. (Teapot) Walkin' (4:28) (Carpenter)
  • Disc 6
    1. Like Someone In Love (4:03) (Van Heusen)
    2. I Can't Get Started (3:37) (Duke)
    3. Spontaneous Combustion (4:15) (Bley)
    4. The Theme (3:40) (unknown) *
    5. Split Kick (3:05) (Silver)
    6. This Time The Dream's On Me (3:07) (Mercer) *
    7. Zootcase (2:33) (Sims) *
    8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (3:22) (Coots/Gillespie)
    9. The Pendulum At Falcon's Lair (4:40) (Pettiford)
    10. Jack The Fieldstalker (4:30) (Pettiford)
    11. Stockholm Sweetnin' (4:11) (Jones)
    12. Low And Behold (3:26) (Pettiford)
    13. Bitty Ditty (5:12) (Jones)
    14. Chazzanova (3:41)
    15. I'll Remember April (3:48) (Raye/DePaul/Johnston)
    16. Elusive (Illusive) (4:50) (Jones)
    17. Sombre Intrusion (2:46) (Jones)
    18. You Don't Know What Love Is (3:29) (Raye/DePaul)
  • Disc 7
    1. Like Someone In Love (3:47) (Van Heusen)
    2. Peace Of Mind (4:02) (Scott)
    3. Lament (4:43) (Johnson)
    4. The Jeep Is Jumpin' (3:56) (Ellington/Strayhorn)
    5. Git Up From There (4:26) (Scott)
    6. A Foggy Day (6:04) (Gershwin)
    7. Mountain Greenery (4:44) (Rodgers) *
    8. Git Up From There (3:56) (Scott) **
    9. Lament (4:56) (Johnson) **
    10. One More (7:28) (Jones)
    11. I Can't Get Started (6:05) (Duke)
    12. More Of The Same (5:12) (Jones)
    13. Get Out Of Town (8:43) (Porter)
    14. One More (3:59) (Jones) **
  • Disc 8
    1. Get Out Of Town (7:28) (Porter) **
    2. Ensenada (5:25) (Dennis)
    3. Machajo (4:02) (Dennis/Roach/Mingus)
    4. Cherokee (4:17) (Noble)
    5. Seven Moons (4:03) (Dennis)
    6. Seven Moons (4:19) **
    7. All The Things You Are (take 1) (5:27) (Kern) *
    8. All The Things You Are (take 2) (4:12) *
    9. Cherokee (5:11) (Noble) **
    10. Nature Boy (6:12) (Ahbez)
    11. Alone Together (7:13) (Dietz/Schwartz)
    12. There's No You (8:01) (Adair/Hopper)
    13. Easy Living (5:02) (Robin/Rainger)
  • Disc 9
    1. The Edge Of Love (2:48) (Baker/Ables/Goode)
    2. Makin' Whoopee (2:38) (Donaldson/Kahn)
    3. Fanny (3:01) (Rome)
    4. Portrait (2:47)
    5. Jump Monk (6:44)
    6. Serenade In Blue (5:56) (Gordon/Warren)
    7. Percussion Discussion (8:26)
    8. Work Song (6:16)
    9. Septemberly (6:55) (Warren/Dubin-Lawrence/Gross)
    10. All The Things You C# (6:47) (Kern)
    11. I'll Remember April (13:03) (Raye/DePaul/Johnston)
  • Disc 10
    1. Love Chant (7:20)
    2. A Foggy Day (5:22) (Gershwin)
    3. Drums (5:20)
    4. Haitian Fight Song (5:16)
    5. Lady Bird (5:51) (Dameron)
    6. Jump Monk (11:38) **
    7. All The Things You C# (9:45) (Kern) **
    8. Drums (take 1) (6:17) **
    9. Drums (take 2) (5:23) **
  • Disc 11
    1. I'll Remember April (13:07) (Raye/DePaul/Johnston) **
    2. A Foggy Day (5:23) (Gershwin) **
    3. A Portrait Of Bud Powell (4:09) (Waldron) *
    4. Haitian Fight Song (5:17) **
    5. Love Chant (8:12) **
    6. Lady Bird (5:35) (Dameron) **
    7. What Is This Thing Called Love (fragment) (2:30) (Porter) *
    8. Latter Day Saint (4:00) (Knepper)
    9. Cunningbird (4:45) (Knepper)
    10. The Jumpin' Blues (Jump The Blues Away) (4:52) (Gordon)
    11. The Masher (3:33) (Knepper)
    12. Latter Day Saint (take 1) (5:22) Knepper **
    13. Latter Day Saint (take 2) (3:46) **
  • Disc 12
    1. The Masher (4:15) (Knepper) **
    2. Latter Day Saint (take #?) (3:51) (Knepper) **
    3. Untitled Original Blues (take 1) (3:55) (Hadi) *
    4. Stella By Starlight (take 4) (3:57) (Young) *
    5. Stella By Starlight (take 5) (3:53) *
    6. Untitled Original Composition (take 3) (5:17) (Hadi) *
    7. Untitled Original Composition (take 5) (4:34) *
    8. Autumn In New York (take 1) (5:29) (Duke) *
    9. Autumn In New York (take 2) (5:05) *
    10. Long Ago And Far Away (take 2) (3:24) (Kern) *
    11. Long Ago And Far Away (take 4) (3:11) *
    12. Long Ago And Far Away (take 5) (3:17) *
    13. Untitled Original Blues (take 2) (4:00) (Hadi) *
    14. Joldi (take 4) (5:24) (Hadi) *
    15. Joldi (take 5) (5:08) *
    16. Untitled Percussion Composition (7:18) *
    All compositions by Charles Mingus unless otherwise noted

Personnel

  • Disc 1, 1-9: Spaulding Givens (Nadi Qamar) (p); Charles Mingus (b)
  • Disc 1, 10-16: Jackie Paris (voc on 10,11); Bob Benton (voc on 12,13); Lee Konitz (as); Phyllis Pinkerton (p); George Koutzen (cello); Charles Mingus (b); Al Levitt (d)
  • Disc 1, 17-19: Jackie Paris (voc); Paige Brook (fl, as); John Mehegan (p); Jackson Wiley (cello); Charles Mingus (b); Max Roach (d)
  • Disc 1, 20-23; Disc 2, 1-2: Spaulding Givens (Nadi Qamar) (p); Charles Mingus (b); Max Roach (d)
  • Disc 2, 3: Hank Jones (p); Charles Mingus (b); Max Roach (d)
  • Disc 2, 4-7: Hank Jones (p); Charles Mingus (b); Max Roach (d); Honey Gordon (voc); Richard Gordon, George Gordon, George Gordon, Jr. (voc on 5,6)
  • Disc 2, 8: Max Roach (d)
  • Disc 2, 9-14: Bud Powell (p); Charles Mingus (b); Max Roach (d)
  • Disc 2, 15-17; Disc 3: Dizzy Gillespie (tp); Charlie Parker (as Charlie Chan on original issue) (as); Bud Powell (p); Charles Mingus (b); Max Roach (d)
  • Disc 4, 1-5: Billy Taylor (p); Charles Mingus (b); unknown (d)
  • Disc 4, 6-10; Disc 5, 1-5: J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Bennie Green, Willie Dennis (tb); John Lewis (p); Charles Mingus (b); Art Taylor (d)
  • Disc 5, 6-11: Ernie Royal (tp); Willie Dennis (tb); Eddie Caine (as, fl); Teo Macero (ts, cl); [Danny Bank (bars?)]; John Lewis (p); Jackson Wiley (cello); Charles Mingus (b); Kenny Clarke (d); Janet Thurlow (voc on 8,10,11); Spaulding Givens (Nadi Qamar) (arr)
  • Disc 5, 12-14; Disc 6, 1-8: Paul Bley (p); Charles Mingus (b); Art Blakey (d)
  • Disc 6, 9-12: Julius Watkins (frh); Phil Urso (ts); Walter Bishop, Jr. (p); Oscar Pettiford (cello); Charles Mingus (b); Percy Brice (d)
  • Disc 6, 13-18: Thad Jones (tp); Frank Wess (ts, fl); Hank Jones (p); Charles Mingus (b); Kenny Clarke (d)
  • Disc 7, 1-9: Hazel Scott (p); Charles Mingus (b); Max Roach (d)
  • Disc 7, 10-14; Disc 8, 1: Thad Jones (tp); John Dennis (p); Charles Mingus (b); Max Roach (d)
  • Disc 8, 2-9: John Dennis (p); Charles Mingus (b); Max Roach (d)
  • Disc 8, 10-13: Miles Davis (tp); Britt Woodman (tb); Teddy Charles (vib); Charles Mingus (b); Elvin Jones (d)
  • Disc 9, 1-3: Don Senay (voc); Thad Jones, Louis Mucci (tp); unknown (brass); John LaPorta, Julius Baker (woodwinds); Billy Taylor (p); unknown (harp); Jackson Wiley (cello); unknown (strings); Milt Hinton, Fred Zimmerman [Charles Mingus?] (b); Joe Morello (d, perc) or unknown (perc); Alonzo Levister (arr)
  • Disc 9, 4: Thad Jones (tp) overdubbed onto instrumental track (without vocal) from preceding session
  • Disc 9, 5-11; Disc 10; Disc 11, 1-7: Eddie Bert (tb); George Barrow (ts); Mal Waldron (p); Charles Mingus (b); Willie Jones (d except on Disc 9, #7,11; Disc 10, #3,8,9; Disc 11, #1); Max Roach (d on Disc 9, #7,11; Disc 10, #3,8,9; Disc 11, #1)
  • Disc 11, 8-13; Disc 12, 1-2: Jimmy Knepper (tb); Joe Maini (as); Bill Triglia (p); Charles Mingus (b); Dannie Richmond (d)
  • Disc 12, 3-15: Clarence Shaw (tp); Shafi Hadi (ts); Pepper Adams (bars); Wade Legge or Wynton Kelly (p); Charles Mingus or Henry Grimes (b); Dannie Richmond (d)
  • Disc 12, 16: unknown (fl) (Shafi Hadi?); Charles Mingus (miscellaneous perc including piano perc); Dannie Richmond (d); unidentified others (probably including Jimmy Knepper, Clarence Shaw, Horace Parlan or Phineas Newborn) (miscellaneous perc)

Information

Date and location
  • Disc 1, 1-9: April 1951, Los Angeles
  • Disc 1, 10-16: April 12, 1952, Lennie Tristano Studio, New York City
  • Disc 1, 17-19: September 16, 1952, New York City
  • Disc 1, 20-23; Disc 2, 1-2: April 14, 1953, New York City
  • Disc 2, 3-7: April 29, 1953, New York City
  • Disc 2, 8-17; Disc 3: May 15, 1953, Massey Hall, Toronto Canada
  • Disc 4, 1-5: Summer 1953, New York City
  • Disc 4, 6-10; Disc 5, 1-5: September 18, 1953, Putnam Central Club, Brooklyn, NY
  • Disc 5, 6-11: October 28, 1953, New York City
  • Disc 5, 12-14; Disc 6, 1-8: November 30, 1953, New York City
  • Disc 6, 9-12: December 29, 1953, New York City
  • Disc 6, 13-18: August 11, 1954, Van Gelder Recording, Hackensack, NJ
  • Disc 7, 1-9: January 21, 1955, Van Gelder Recording, Hackensack, NJ
  • Disc 7, 10-14; Disc 8, 1-9: March 10, 1955, Van Gelder Recording, Hackensack, NJ
  • Disc 8, 10-13: July 9, 1955, Van Gelder Recording, Hackensack, NJ
  • Disc 9, 1-3: September 19, 1955, New York City
  • Disc 9, 4: Probably September 26, 1955, New York City
  • Disc 9, 5-11; Disc 10; Disc 11, 1-7: December 23, 1955, Cafe Bohemia, New York City
  • Disc 11, 8-13; Disc 12, 1-2: June 10, 1957, New York City
  • Disc 12, 3-15: September (?) 1957, New York City
  • Disc 12, 16: Late 1957 or (?) 1958, New York City
Original issue (year)
  • Disc 1, 1-6: on Debut DLP-1 (10") as Spaulding Givens/Charles Mingus - Strings and Keys
  • Disc 1, 11 and 16: on Debut M-101 (78rpm)
  • Disc 1, 14 and 19: on Debut M-103 (78rpm)
  • Disc 1, 17 and 18: on Debut M-102 (78rpm)
  • Disc 2, 4 and 6: on Debut M-110 (78rpm)
  • Disc 2, 5 and 7: on Debut M-111 (78rpm)
  • Disc 2, 10-14 and Disc 4, 4: on Debut DLP-3 (10") as The Amazing Bud Powell - Jazz at Massey Hall, volume two/trio
  • Disc 3, 5-8: on Debut DLP-2 (10") as The Quintet - Jazz at Massey Hall, volume one
  • Disc 3, 9-11: on Debut DLP-4 (10") as The Quintet - Jazz at Massey Hall, volume three Volumes one and three were combined on Debut DEB-124 (12") as The Quintet - Jazz at Massey Hall
  • Disc 4, 6 and 9: on Debut DLP-14 (10") as J. J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Benny Green, Willie Dennis - Jazz Workshop - Tombone Rapport, volume 2
  • Disc 4, 7 and 8; Disc 5, 4: on Debut DLP-5 (10") as J. J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Benny Green, Willie Dennis - Jazz Workshop - Tombone Rapport, volume 1
  • Disc 4, 10; Disc 5, 1-3: on Debut DEB-126 (12") as J. J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Benny Green, Willie Dennis - 4 Trombones
  • Disc 5, 6-8 and 11: on Debut EP-450 (7") as Charles Mingus Octet 
  • Disc 5, 13-14; Disc 6, 1-3 and 5: on Debut DLP-7 (10") as Introducing Paul Bley with Charlie Mingus, Art Blakey
  • Disc 6, 9-12: on Debut DLP-8 (10") as The New Oscar Pettiford Sextet
  • Disc 6, 13-18: on Debut DLP-12 (10") and Disc 7, 10-13: on Debut DLP-17 (10") both combined on Debut DEB-127 (12") as Thad Jones
  • Disc 7, 1-6: on Debut DLP-16 (10") as Hazel Scott - Relaxed Piano Moods
  • Disc 8, 2-5: on Debut DEB-121 (12") as John Dennis - New Piano Expressions
  • Disc 8, 10-13: on Debut DEB-120 (12") as Miles Davis - Blue Moods
  • Disc 9, 1 and 3: on Debut M-112 (78rpm)
  • Disc 9, 5-10: on Debut DEB-123 (12") as Mingus at the Bohemia
  • Disc 9, 11; Disc 10, 1-5: on Fantasy (Debut Series) F-86009 (12") as The Charles Mingus Quintet + Max Roach
  • Disc 11, 8-11: on Danish Jazz Worshop DL-101 as Jimmy Knepper
  • Disc 1, 14 and 18; Disc 2, 3,4,6,8 and 9; Disc 5, 5 and 11;
  • Disc 6, 8; Disc 9, 2 and 4: on Debut DEB-198 (12") as Various Artists - Autobiography in Jazz
All other tracks first issued in this box set.
Total time
14:09:19

Comments

* previously unissued
** previously unissued alternate take
  • Yesterdays (Disc 1, 3): piano solo
  • Extrasensory Perception (alternate take) (Disc 1, 15): the original issued version of this selection was edited; this take is identical up to the piano solo and differs from that point.
  • (Medley) You Go To My Head (Disc 2, 3): on its original release, this selection was identified as "Medley" since it appears to be the first tune of a medley; in previous releases, it ended with an abrupt edit in the middle of a modulation, which has been somewhat softened here.
  • (Jubilee) Hallelujah (Disc 2, 13): on all previous issues, this selection has been identified as "Jubilee"; it is, in fact, the composition "Hallelujah".
  • Massey Hall quintet tracks: the tracks on Disc 2, 15-17 and Disc 3, 1-4 were transferred from the original single-channel mono recording tape made at the concert, before Charles Mingus, dissatisfied with the low level at which the bass had been recorded, added a new bass part. The tracks on Disc 3, 5-11 are made from the overdubbed tapes.
  • Wee (Allen's Alley) (Disc 2, 15): the head of this selection, heard in truncated form in all prior issues, has been reconstructed from original tape sources.
  • Perdido (Disc 3, 1): the head of this selection, heard in truncated form in all prior issues, has been reconstructed from original tape sources.
  • Salt Peanuts (Disc 3, 2 and 6): vocals by Gillespie and Parker.
  • Billy Taylor session (Disc 4, 1-5): both Art Taylor and Max Roach, either of whom were assumed to have played on this session, have denied being the drummer. It is likely that Mingus's new bass part was added to the original Massey Hall tapes at this session.
  • Octet session (Disc 5, 6-11): discographers have listed this date as October 27, but the tape box is marked October 28.
  • (Teapot) Walkin' (Disc 5, 14): on all previous issues, this selection has been identified as "Teapot". It is, however, "Walkin'".
  • Elusive (Illusive) (Disc 6, 16): on several issues, this title was given as "Illusive". It is, correctly, "Elusive".
  • Percussion Discussion (Disc 9, 7): a second bass part was overdubbed onto the original track at some subsequent date.
  • Septemberly (Disc 9, 9): this is a Mingus arrangement, combining the two standards "September In The Rain" and "Tenderly".
  • All The Things You C# (Disc 9, 10; Disc 10, 7): this is a Mingus arrangement which combines the standard "All The Things You Are" with elements from the Rachmaninoff "Prelude in C# Minor" and Debussy's "Claire de Lune".
  • A Portrait Of Bud Powell (Disc 11, 3): piano solo.
  • What Is This Thing Called Love (Disc 11, 7): tape ran out at recording session.
  • Jimmy Knepper session (Disc 11, 8-13; Disc 12, 1-2): most discographies list the date as July 10.
  • Shafi Hadi session (Disc 12, 3-15): internal evidence on the session tapes indicates that Mingus is not the bass player on the takes of "Joldi".
  • Untitled Precussion Composition (Disc 12, 16): this recording date was for the purpose of providing a sound track for the film "Shadows", but the material recorded was not used. The remainder of the session consists of brief snippets of instrumental "cue" segments. Charles Mingus's voive is heard at the track's opening. 
Menovky: ,